Do or Die
Do or Die is a West Side Chicago rap trio whose 1996 Rap-A-Lot hit “Po Pimp,” with Twista and Johnny P, became a defining record of the city’s fast-flow, mid-1990s sound.
East Garfield Park trio
Do or Die formed in 1995 in East Garfield Park on Chicago’s West Side, bringing together rappers N.A.R.D., Belo Zero and AK-47. Working with producer The Legendary Traxster, they shared the rapid, melodic delivery that was becoming a Chicago signature and aligned early with Twista.
“Po Pimp” goes national
Recorded in 1995 and first released independently in Chicago, “Po Pimp” featured a verse from Twista and a hook sung by Johnny P, with production by The Legendary Traxster. After Rap-A-Lot Records picked it up, the single was issued nationally on July 16, 1996. It climbed to No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100, topped the Hot Rap Singles chart and was certified gold. Complex later ranked it the second-greatest Chicago rap song ever.
Picture This and Headz or Tailz
The debut album “Picture This” followed on September 3, 1996, via Rap-A-Lot, recorded between Chicago and Houston with production from Traxster, Mike Dean and Crazy C and James Prince as executive producer. It reached No. 27 on the Billboard 200 and No. 3 on the R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart and went gold. “Headz or Tailz,” released April 7, 1998, on Rap-A-Lot and Virgin, did even better, peaking at No. 13 on the Billboard 200 and going gold within weeks; its lead single “Still Po Pimpin” reunited the group with Johnny P and Twista.
Later work
The trio kept recording into the new century with “Victory” (2000), “Back 2 the Game” (2002), “Pimpin’ Ain’t Dead” (2003), “D.O.D.” (2005) and “Get That Paper” (2006), later adding “Picture This II” (2015), a joint EP with Twista titled “Withdrawal” (2015), “The Pass Out” (2020) and “The Storm” (2022).
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